Quiz: The Ultimate WWII Military Equipment Quiz: HowStuffWorks

The Ultimate WWII Military Equipment Quiz

MILITARY

By: Jacqueline Samaroo

7 Min Quiz

Image: WikiCommons via Euro-t-guide.com

About This Quiz

Fall in! Here is a look back at the military equipment which helped to make WWII the war to end all wars

It is a known fact that soldiers win wars, but what is also true is that they rely heavily on the equipment they have to help them do it. At the beginning of WWII, much of that equipment was brand-new tech which had been developed by both sides in the interwar years. As the war progressed, the Allied and Axis countries worked feverishly to stay one step ahead of each other while keeping their defenses up and hammering away at the enemy with offensive tactics.

All sorts of equipment featured prominently in WWII. Navigation devices, personal protection gear and a wide assortment of vehicles also played their part. It was firepower, however, which took center stage. From pistols, rifles and submachine guns to howitzers, anti-tank guns and missiles, the variety of weaponry was astounding. What would be even more astounding, however, is working through the quiz and being able to identify them. If you think you are up to the challenge, then it's time to proceed to battle stations as you duke it out with this quiz!

WWII history buffs will definitely overpower this quiz - but how will you do? Charge right in and find out!

KCCI

What is the name of the personalized piece of equipment shown here?

I.D. bracelet

M3 scabbard

liquid-filled wrist compass

Ka-Bar combat knife

The I.D bracelets issued to servicemen and women in WWII were not all the same – some carried more detailed information than others. At a minimum, most were inscribed with the soldier’s name, rank and serial number, as well as his or her blood type.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Fab-pe

Do you know the name of the firearm showed in this photo?

Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless

V-2 rocket

M1941 Johnson machine gun

M2 flamethrower

The M1941 Johnson machine gun was described as a light machine gun and typically written as the Johnson M1941 LMG. It is named after its designer, United States Marine Corps (USMC) reservist Melvin Johnson, Jr. who held the rank of captain. The Johnson M1941 LMG is often referred to simply as the Johnson or by its nickname, the Johnny gun.

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Can you name the handheld explosive device shown in this image?

Grand Slam earthquake bomb

M115 howitzer

M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher

Gammon bomb

The Gammon bomb (more formally known as the Number 82 grenade) was designed by a member of the British Parachute Regiment. It was put to extensive use by Allied paratroopers, including American paratroopers who took part in D-Day activities. Users were pleased with how easy it was to customize the Gammon bomb to suit the intended target.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via RF

Which 12,000-pound explosive weapon is shown here?

Fu-Go fire balloon

Wasserfall supersonic missile

Tallboy earthquake bomb

Fritz X guided bomb

Barnes Wallis, a British aeronautical engineer, first developed earthquake bombs, such as Tallboy and Grand Slam in 1941. The British Royal Air Force successfully used Tallboy earthquake bombs on several occasions. These include the sinking of the Tirpitz, a German Bismarck-class battleship off the northern Norwegian coast.

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Can you name the direction finder shown in this photo?

I.D. bracelet

Liquid-filled wrist compass

M1 carbine sling

D-Day paratrooper cricket

American paratroopers who took part in D-Day operations were issued larger and more accurate versions of the liquid-filled wrist compasses than were given to other troops. The compasses were worn on the wrist; over the sleeve higher up on the arm; attached to the shoulder loops of the uniform; or at the ankle over a jump boot.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Michael E. Cumpston

Do you know what this cutting tool is called?

M2 flamethrower

M1 Garand bayonet

M3 trench knife

Smatchet fighting knife

British Capt. William E. Fairbairn designed the Smatchet during WWII and it was put to use by both British and American troops. It is a combat knife with an 11-inch blade which is designed with a dull matte finish to make it undetectable during night attacks.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Armémuseum

Can you name this covering which was used on bayonets?

M3 gas mask

M3 scabbard

M1916 holster

Map case

The M3 scabbard was designed soon after the start of WWII as a sheath for the M1 bayonet. Materials used in previous scabbards issued for the M1 bayonet included wood, leather, canvas and rawhide. The new M3 scabbard’s sheath was fiberglass and its throat was made of metal.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Raboe001

Which German projectile is shown in this picture?

Type 95 Ha-Go light tank

Fat Man atomic bomb

Borgward IV demolition vehicle

V-2 rocket

During WWII, Germany developed several “Vergeltungswaffen” or retaliatory weapons, one of which was the V-2 rocket. The V-2 goes down in history as the world’s first long-range guided ballistic missile and the first manmade object to achieve space travel – it did this during a test on June 20, 1944 when it managed to leave Earth’s atmosphere.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Jeff Kubina

What is the name of the firearm shown here?

Colt 1911

M3 submachine gun (Grease gun)

Schwerer Gustav railway gun

M1A1 carbine

The M3 submachine gun is often referred to as the M3 SMG or by its nickname, “grease gun.” The US military began using it in December 1942 with the intention that it would replace the popular Thompson submachine gun (Tommy Gun). Production levels of the M3 SMG, however, never rose to meet demands.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Euro-t-guide.com

Do you know what this armored fighting vehicle is called?

U-boat submarine

Schwerer Gustav railway gun

Goliath tracked mine

M4 Sherman medium tank

The United States produced an abundance of M4 Sherman medium tanks and began putting them into service in 1942. Due to the large numbers of Sherman tanks which were available, the US was able to distribute some to other Allied armies via the WWII Lend-Lease program.

Advertisement

hickok45

Do you know what the pistol shown here is called?

Thompson submachine gun

Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless

PPSh-41 Shpagin machine pistol

Sten gun

Production of the Colt M1903 pocket hammerless began in 1903 and lasted until 1945. It was issued to general officers in both the US Army and Air Force. Despite the term “hammerless” in its name, this semi-automatic pistol did, in fact, have a hammer out of sight under the slide.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Wilson44691

Which massive 22,000-pound explosive device is this?

Grand Slam earthquake bomb

Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon

Fu-Go fire balloon

Gammon bomb

The Grand Slam earthquake bomb was almost twice as heavy as the Tallboy earthquake bomb which was also used during WWII. Grand Slam weighed 22,000 pounds or 10,000 kilograms which earned it the nickname “Ten ton Tess.” It was used successfully in several dam busting operations by the British RAF No. 617 Squadron (known as The Dambusters).

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Can you identify the underwater WWII vehicle shown here?

Scout cruiser

Sleeping Beauty motorized submersible canoe

U-boat submarine

E-boat motor torpedo boat

The term U-boat was used by Allied forces in reference to the submarines used by the German military in both WWI and WWII. The German word for submarine or undersea boat is “unterseeboot” and so the term U-boat should really apply to all submarines!

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Auckland Museum

Which face covering is shown in this photo?

M2 paratrooper helmet

M3 gas mask

M3 scabbard

M1941 canteen cover

Both the M3 lightweight gas mask and the similar-looking M4 were introduced into service by the US military in 1942 as replacements for the M2. The M3 was either black or gray while the M4 was issued in olive drab (greenish brown).

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Do you recognize this device which sprays out fire?

Vickers K machine gun

M3 submachine gun (Grease gun)

M2 flamethrower

TM-35 anti-tank mine

The M2 man-portable backpack infantry flamethrower was an intimidating weapon for troops to have. It was used by US troops during WWII but became an unnecessary piece of equipment when flamethrower tanks were introduced.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Aleksandr Markin

Which armored means of transport is this?

FN Tricar

CV 33 tankette

Dingo scout car

Tiger I heavy tank

Germany brought the Tiger heavy tank into service in 1942 and it soon became a formidable presence on the battlefield. It was both heavily armed and armored, weighing over 50 tons, and having the ability to travel over 40 mph. Phasing out of the Tiger 1 began in 1944 when the upgraded Tiger II was deployed.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Valder137

What is name of this airborne deception device?

TM1942 paratrooper trousers

A-frame assault pack

Oscar paradummy

Miaodao saber

Paradummies were dropped by airborne troops as a way to distract and deceive the enemy on the ground. They look like real paratroopers and while they drew enemy fire, actual paratroopers could land safely elsewhere. They were called Oscar paradummies by American troops and Rupert dolls by British troops.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Alan Wilson

What is the name of this WWII cruise missile?

Pelican guided bomb

Schwerer Gustav railway gun

Funryu surface-to-air missile

V-1 flying bomb

The V-1 flying bomb was one of the retaliatory or vengeance weapons developed by Germany during WWII. Between June and October, 1944, Germany launched almost 10,000 V-1 flying bombs at England from locations in France and the Netherlands.

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Which United States Marine Corps cutting tool is this?

Miaodao saber

Fat Man atomic bomb

I.D. bracelet

Ka-Bar combat knife

Both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy issued the Ka-Bar combat knife to troops during WWII. It served as a replacement to outdated knives which had been in use since WWI. The Ka-bar’s hilt was made of stacked washers and its blade was 7 inches long. It was designated a fighting/utility knife.

Advertisement

WikiCommons via Andrew Butko

Can you name the massive tracked weapon shown here?

Schwerer Gustav railway gun

Grand Slam earthquake bomb

M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher

Borgward IV demolition vehicle

The railway gun was by no means a new weapon when WWII started – the first one had been used from as far back as the American Civil War. What set them apart in WWII was the sheer size of them. The incredibly enormous Schwerer Gustav railway gun fielded by Germany holds the distinction of being the war’s largest piece of artillery.

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Do you know what this type of cannon is called?

TM-35 anti-tank mine

M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher

PIAT man-portable anti-tank weapon

M115 howitzer

At roughly 36 feet and 16 tons, the towed M115 howitzer required a 14-man crew to operate it in the field. Designed in 1939, it was used in WWII and also saw action in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Advertisement

WikiCommons

What is the name of the roving bomb shown here?

Type 97 grenade

Goliath tracked mine

Bouncing Betty S-mine

Blockbuster bomb

The Goliath tracked mine (also known as a beetle tank to the Allied troops) was a demolition vehicle produced by Germany in WWII. It was tethered, remote-controlled and weighed over 800 pounds. Over 12,000 were made during the war years, with some models being powered by a gas engine while others were electrical.

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Can you say what this automatic weapon is called?

Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon

TM-35 anti-tank mine

Type 97 grenade

Vickers K machine gun

The Vickers K machine gun was used by both the British Royal Air Force and the Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy. It served as a rapid-fire weapon on some light and medium bomber aircraft, as well as some Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) and Motor Launches (MLs).

Advertisement

WikiCommons

What is the name of this Japanese long-range, floating explosive device?

Barrage balloon

Fu-Go fire balloon

Blohm & Voss BV 141

Outward balloon

The Fu-Go devices were unmanned, explosive-laden, hydrogen balloons released from Japan with the aim of travelling over the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of North America. Between November, 1944 and April, 1945, over 9, 000 were released, but estimates say fewer than 300 made their target and only one resulted in fatality, Killing a pregnant woman and 5 children in May 1945.

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Do you know the name of this nuclear weapon?

Fat Man atomic bomb

M8 barrage rocket

R4M rocket

Enzian anti-aircraft missile

Only two nuclear weapons have ever been used in the history of warfare: the Little Boy and Fat Man atomic bombs. Fat Man weighed 10,300 pounds and was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 – 3 days after Little Boy hit Hiroshima. Japan formally surrendered to the Allied forces 6 days later, on August 15.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by Esquilo

Which marine vessel is shown in this photo?

U-boat submarine

Minesweeper

E-boat motor torpedo boat

Light cruiser

E-boats were fast attack German vessels developed by Germany during the interwar years (that is, between the end of WWI and the start of WWII). In German, they are known as Schnellboot (fast boat) or S-Boot. but the Allied armies used the designation E-boat, with the E standing for “enemy.”

Advertisement

WikiCommons by National Park Service

Can you name the high-powered weapon shown here?

Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless

Lee Enfield rifle

Thompson submachine gun

Colt 1911

Gangsters during the U.S. Prohibition era of the 1920s had a special liking for the Thompson submachine gun. It took on a nobler image, however, when it became one of the most-liked weapons of troops during WWII. The stopping power of the Thompson meant that its low range of roughly 160 feet was not of any real concern.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by Bukvoed

Can you name the armored fighting vehicle shown here?

Bishop self-propelled artillery

Matilda I infantry tank

M39 Pantserwagen armored car

M40 gun motor carriage

The Matilda infantry tank was utilized by the British throughout WWII. It carried a 4-man crew and although it was well-armored, the Matilda was also slow and lightly armed. Troops nicknamed it the Waltzing Matilda.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by US War department

What is this incendiary device called?

Type 97 grenade

Tallboy earthquake bomb

TM-35 anti-tank mine

Fat Man atomic bomb

The Type 97 fragmentation hand grenade was used by both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Special Landing Forces. It was activated by pulling out the safety pin and hitting the grenade against a hard surface. Care had to be taken, however, as its 2.3 ounces of TNT would detonate just 4 – 5 seconds after activation.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by MKFI

Which explosive device is shown in this picture?

Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless

V-1 flying bomb

TM-35 anti-tank mine

M2 flamethrower

The weight of a vehicle, such as a tank, driving over the pressure plate of a Soviet-made TM-35 anti-tank mine was sufficient to trigger its detonation sequence. The mine contained 7-ounce blocks of TNT and usually incorporated some sort of anti-handling device to prevent anyone tampering with it.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by Nick-D

What is this nuclear device called?

Gammon bomb

Little Boy atomic bomb

U-boat submarine

Type 97 grenade

Little Boy was the first of two atomic bombs dropped on Japan in August 1945. It weighed 9,700 pounds and was released over the city of Hiroshima on August 6 by Enola Gay, a U.S. superfortress bomber. Japan surrendered on August 12, following a second atomic bombing (on Nagasaki on August 9 by a weapon code-named Fat Man).

Advertisement

WikiCommons by Alan Wilson

Can you name the remote-controlled explosives carrier in this photo?

Borgward IV demolition vehicle

M1941 Johnson machine gun

M2 switchblade knife

Tiger I heavy tank

The Borgward IV, Springer and Goliath were 3 remote-controlled, charge-carrying vehicles produced by Germany during WWII. At nearly 4 tons, the Borgward was the heaviest of the three. It was protected by armor which was made as much as 20 mm thick in some places.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by Alan Wilson

Do you recognize the armored fighting vehicle shown in this photo?

Boys anti-tank rifle

E-boat motor torpedo boat

Type 95 Ha-Go light tank

TM-35 anti-tank mine

The Type 95 Ha-Go light tank was produced by Japan from 1936 until 1943. Some U.S. troops will remember it well, as it was the first enemy tank American forces faced during WWII. Being lightly armed and armored, the Type 95 Ha-Go did not prove to be much a match for medium and heavy tanks.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by the Imperial War Museums

Do you recognize this firearm nicknamed “elephant gun?”

Miaodao saber

M2 flamethrower

M3 submachine gun (Grease gun)

Boys anti-tank rifle

This bolt-action rifle was named for its creator Captain Henry C. Boys, a British weapons designer. Troops nicknamed it “elephant gun” because of its large size. It was initially quite effective at taking out enemy tanks, but these were upgraded with improved armor to withstand the assault from weapons like the elephant gun.

Advertisement

WikiCommons

Do you know the name of this unusual German reconnaissance plane?

Smatchet fighting knife

Blohm & Voss BV 141

Tallboy earthquake bomb

Oscar paradummy

The unusual placement of the cockpit, along with the absence of a tailplane on the right-hand side, gave the Blohm & Voss BV 141 its “impossible to fly” look. Less than 30 of the asymmetrical Blohm & Voss BV 141 were ever produced and today, there are no surviving examples.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by Iamthawalrus

Can you name this cutting tool used mostly by paratroopers?

M3 scabbard

Schwerer Gustav railway gun

Miaodao saber

M2 switchblade knife

The M2 switchblade knife is often referred to as the paratrooper’s knife, because it was mainly issued to American paratroopers. Its switchblade design meant it could be opened easily with just one hand then used to quickly cut the paratrooper free of the harness of his parachute.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by U.S. Army Signal Corps

Which shoulder-fired weapon is this?

M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher

Tiger I heavy tank

Grand Slam earthquake bomb

Borgward IV demolition vehicle

This reusable rocket launcher was introduced by the United States Army in 1942. It was later upgraded to the M20 Super Bazooka, which had more penetrating power being able to pierce 11 inches of armor plate, whereas the original bazooka could only handle 4.7 inches.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by Haozwang618

Do you know what this two-handed long sword in called?

M2 flamethrower

Vickers K machine gun

Miaodao saber

Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless

The miaodao saber, a traditional Chinese weapon, found a place in WWII due to the shortage of firearms experienced by some Japanese troops. With a blade which was normally made longer than 47 inches, the miaodao proved to be effective in close quarters combat.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by Ranger Steve

What is the name of this explosives projector?

PIAT man-portable anti-tank weapon

Gammon bomb

Oscar paradummy

M1941 Johnson machine gun

The British PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) was a man-portable weapon introduced in 1942 to provide better firepower to troops who had been using the Boys anti-tank rifle. The new PIAT was capable of penetrating thicker tank armor than the Boys. Its downside, however, was that its effective range was only 115 yards.

Advertisement

WikiCommons by United States Government

Can you name the rapid-fire weapon shown in this image?

U-boat submarine

V-2 rocket

Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon

Goliath tracked mine

The Imperial Japanese Navy used the Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon to arm both the Mitsubishi A6M Zero and the Kawanishi N1K. Whereas an autocannon is normally a very heavy piece of equipment, the Type 99 was designed to be much lighter but suffered some loss of firepower.

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Get smarter every day! Subscribe & get 1 quiz every week.

Playing quizzes is free! We send trivia questions and personality tests every week to your inbox. By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our
privacy policy
and confirming that you are 13 years old or over.